Transversely operated clutch



May 7, 1957 J. P. HANSEN ET AL TRAN'SVERSELY OPERATED CLUTCH Filed Dec. 23, 1953- INVENTORS ES P. HANSEN MORRIS M. W LDROP' 7/4 4! JOHANN ATT RNEY United States 2,791,305 TRANSVERSELY OPERATED CLUTCH Application December 23, 1953, Serial No. 400,042

6 Claims. (Cl. 192--76) This invention relates to individual textile card drive mechanisms and more particularly to a novel arrangement for driving textile cards in which provision is made for performing card stripping operations in a manner similar to that commonly employed in textile card installations in which an overhead line shaft is used to drive a plurality of card machines.

In card rooms equipped with overhead lineshafting, the location of card machines is determined once the line shafting is installed. For this reason, where line shafting is used, it is frequently diflicult to provide adequate lighting, air conditioning and the like, and of course the card machines cannot be readily relocated so as to afford maximum efficiency in machine operation and in work flow. Furthermore, when maintenance and repair operations are performed on the motor or line shaft, all the card machines driven thereby must be shut down. Such considerations have resulted in a trend whereby individual electric motor driving mechanisms are being applied to card machines.

Periodic stripping of lint from the clothing of card machines must be accomplished in order to insure proper operation. Furthermore, it is necessary that card machines be driven in a reverse direction at intervals in order to perform a grinding operation wherein the card clothing is sharpened and evened.

A principal object of this invention is to provide an improved individual drive for textile card machines which is arranged so that stripping operations can be performed in a manner similar to conventional stripping methods used in connection with line shaft installations and which, in addition, is particularly adaptable for driving the card in both normal and reverse directions of rotation.

Another object of the invention is the provision of an improved individual card drive which dispenses with the conventional dniving belt and which is provided with clutch means :for coupling and uncoupling the card with its individual motive means.

A further object of this invention is to provide an improved clutch especially adapted for use in an individual card drive mechanism, and which automatically compensates for the wearing of the clutching surfaces.

The invention in one form comprises a rotatable drum mounted coaxially with the card machine drive shaft and driven by motive means such as an electric motor together with special manually controllable clutch means for coupling and uncoupling the card and the drum. According to a feature of the invention, stripper driving means such as a pulley is mounted on the drum. Thus with the card and tits motor operating at normal speed, a shipping operation is performed by first operating the clutch so as to uncouple the card from the motor. Thereafter the stripping belt is mounted on the stripper pulley and on the stripper roll pulley so as to impart rotary movement thereto when the card has slowed down to the-desired stripping speed. Since the improved clutch constructed according to this invention is adapted to operate foreither direction of rotation, it is only necesatent O sary to reverse the motor by known means in order to perform a grinding operation.

For a better understanding of the invention reference may be had to the following description taken in conjunction with the drawings in which Fig. 1 is a side view partially in section of an individual card driving mechanism embodying the invention; Fig. 2 is a view along the line 2-2 of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a detailed view of a spider element together with a cooperating arm which constitute essential elements of the mechanism as shown in Figs. 1 and 2; and in which Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 2 of a preferred modification of the invention.

With reference to Fig. l, the numeral 1 designates a schematically represented card machine having a main driving shaft 2 supported in bearing 3 which in turn is mounted on the frame portion 4 of the card machine. An electric motor Sis secured by bolts 6 to base plate 7 which is pivotally mounted at 8 to the card frame 4. By means of adjustable bolts 9 the base plate 7 is moved about the pivotal mounting 8 so as to adjust motor 5 relative to the movable driving member in the form of drum 10 which is provided with gear means 11 for cooperating with pinion 12 secured to the shaft of motor 5. Thus rotation of motor 5 imparts rotary movement to drum 10. It will be understood that motor 5, and pinion 12 constitute motive means for imparting rotary movement to the card shaft 2 through clutch means constructed in accordance with this invention and described hereinafter.

Afiixed to the left-hand side of driving member 10 as viewed in Fig. 1 is a pulley 13 which, if desired, can be used to drive a stripping element continuously. It will be understood that pulley 13 is shown in Fig. l merely for the purpose of completeness but does not constitute an essential feature of this invention.

Aflixed to the right-hand surface of drum 10 is a stripper driving element in the form of pulley 14 which is similar to pulley 13 in construction although pulley 14 is intended to be used to perform intermittent or periodic stripping operations as distinguished from the continuous stripping operations which can be performed by pulley 13. Thus it will be understood that an operator would perform a stripping operation by simply placing a stripper belt on the pulley 14 and on a stripper driving pulley not shown and by applying appropriate tension to the stripper belt could perform a card stripping operation in the manner in which such operations are conventionally performed, it being understood that stripping operations would be performed only after the card machine would have been allowed to slow down to a speed somewhat below normal operating speed.

In order to connect and disconnect the card machine from its motive means, clutch means are provided in accordance with this invention for connecting and disconnecting the driving drum 10 and the shaft 2 of the card machine. To this end, a clutch spider 15 is secured by any suitable means such as the key 16 to the shaft 2. Thus spider 15 is rotatable with shaft 2 at all times.

As can best be seen in Fig. 3, spider 15 comprises a hub portion 17, a pair of diametrically disposed radially extending elements 18 together with the pedestals 19 which are both integrally formed with hub portion 17. The extremities of elements 18 are provided with recesses 20 for receiving the end portions of a pair of op positely disposed clutch shoes 21 which as shown in Fig. 2 are arcua'te in shape and which are provided with clutch linings 21a arranged to cooperate with the clutch surface 22 extending about the inner periphery of the drum 10. From Fig. 2 it can be seen that the clutch shoes .21 are biased inwardly by the tension springs 23 to positions spaced from clutch surface 22.

.For the purpose of imparting radial movement to thev clutch shoes 21, a suitable manually controllable overcenter toggle mechanism is provided in accordance with this invention. This mechanism comprises a pair of arms 24 which are respectively in pivotal engagement with pedestals 19 and which engage the clutch shoes 21 at an intermediate portion thereof. Each arm 24 incorporates a pivot pin 25 which is disposed in a slot 26 formed in the associated pedestal 19. Furthermore, each arm 24 is provided with a laterally extending slot 24a for receiving an intermediate portion of the associated clutch shoe 21.

For the purpose of imparting radial movement to the arms 24, the collar 27 having studs 28 mounted thereon is slidably mounted about the left-hand end of hub portion 17 of spider 15 and a pair of yoke members 29 together with adjustable bolts 30 constitute toggle means for interrelating collar 27 with arms 24. Lock nuts 30a preferably should be provided for bolts 30. Disposed about collar 27 is a peripheral groove 31 in which is mounted a ring 32 which is connected by pin 33 with manually operable handle 34 pivoted at 35 to frame 4.

Thus it will be understood that movement of handle 34 toward the right as viewed in Fig. 1 will impart sliding movement to collar 27 and studs 23 which will in turn apply a compressive force to yoke members 29 thereby to move clutch shoes 21 outwardly into engagement with clutch surface 22 of drum 10. Since hub 17 is keyed to shaft 2 of the card machine and since drum 10 is rotatable with motor 5, frictional engagement between the clutch shoes 21 and clutch surface 22 of drum 10 establishes a driving relationship between motor and card 1. It will be understood that the dimensions of the various parts are so chosen that studs 28 occupy positions slightly to the right of adjustable bolts 30 when a driving relationship between motor 5 and card 1 has been established. Thus it is not necessary to maintain manual or other pressure on handle 34 in order to maintain an operative relationship between motor 5 and card 1 since the toggle action of the parts accomplishes the same end. By the same token when handle 34 is moved to the left to occupy a position such as is represented in Fig. 1 it is not necessary to maintain manual or other pressure on the handle in order to maintain the parts in the uncoupled position.

As is indicated in Fig. l, the toggle mechanism is enclosed by suitable guard means 36 bolted to drum by bolts 36a. Furthermore, it will be understood that drum 10 is rotatably mounted on the hub portion 17 of spider by suitable beanings schematically represented at 37 and axial movement of drum 10 is prevented due to the fact that the bearing portion 10a of drum .10 is confined between plate 38 secured to hub 17 by screws 39 on its right-hand side and between the bases of pedestals 19 and of elements 18 on its left-hand side.

In order to start the card machine 1 from standstill, power is applied to motor 5 by closing an electrical switch while the handle 34 occupies its left-hand or uncoupled position as shown in Fig. 1. Motor 5 comes up to normal running speed and imparts rotary movement to pinion 12 and drum 10 while shaft 2 of the card remains stationary with the clutch shoes 21 spaced slightly from the clutch surface 22. Once the motor 5 has reached its normal running speed the operator moves handle 34 toward the right to impart radial movement to clutch shoes 21 thereby to establish a driving relationship between drum 10 and shaft 2. When it is desired to perform a stripping operation handle 34 is moved to the left thereby to uncouple shaft 2 from drum 10. When the card machine 1 has slowed down to the desired speed, the operator places a stripping belt (not shown) on pulley 14 which is still rotating at normal speed and on the stripper pulley which also is not shown in the drawings. When suitable pressure is applied to the stripper belt by the operator the stripper is driven in the proper manner to remove undesired lint from the card 4 clothing. When the stripping operation is completed the operator removes the stripping belt and then moves handle 34 to the right thereby to reestablish a driving relationship between motor 5 and card 1 and to bring the card back up to normal operating speed.

It is necessary that the clothing of card machines be ground at periodic intervals. Such grinding operations are best performed with the card rotating in a direction which is opposite from the normal direction of rotation The arrangement constructed according to this invention is particularly adaptable for coupling and uncoupling the motive means and the card 1 irrespective of the direction of rotation of the card machine. For example, it will be observed that clutch shoes 21 will wear evenly due to the fact that the end portions thereof are not securely afiixed as by pivot means to the elements 18 but rather are loosely mounted within the recesses 22. Stated otherwise, the clutch shoes 21 in accordance with this invention are confined within the recesses 20 ofelements 18 in such a way that substantial angular movement ofclutch shoes 21 relative to spider 15 is prevented without interfering with the desired radial movement of clutch shoes 21 into and out of engagement with clutch surface 22. With reference to Fig. 2 it will be observedthat since the ends of each shoe 21 are relatively movable in a radial direction, counterclockwise rotation of drum 10 relative to the upper shoe 21, for example, will tend to cause shoe 21 to pivot about the left-hand end thereof while clockwise rotation of drum 10 relative-to upper shoe 21 will tend to cause the shoe to pivot about the right-hand end thereof.

From the above description it will be understood that. bolts 30 must be correctly adjusted so as to maintain the proper pressure between clutch lining elements 21a and clutch surface 22 and that it may be necessary from time to time to readjust bolts 30 to compensate for wearing of the clutching surfaces.

The arrangement shown in Fig. 4 automatically compensates for wearing of the parts and at the same time maintains the desired pressure between clutch linings 21a and clutch surface 22. The modification shown in Fig. 4 constitutes a preferred embodiment of the invention. As is obvious from the drawing the modification of Fig. 4 is like the arrangement of Fig. 2 except that each of the two rigid yokes 29 of Fig. 2 is replaced in Fig. 4 by yieldable means comprising the four rods 40, the asso-'- ciated compression springs 41 and two saddles 42, only one of which appears in'cut-away Fig. 4. Each rod 40 is provided with retaining washers 40b for maintaining the ends of rods 40 in the openings provided in saddle 42 against the action of springs 41. The inner ends'of rods 40 engage studs 28 as do the inner portions of yokes- 29 as best seen in Fig. 1. In a particular device made according to Fig. 4, bolts 30 are adjusted when the clutch is in the engaged position till washers'40b clear saddle 42 about of an inch to compensate for wear of the clutch shoe lining 21a, and their inner ends seat in pockets 42a formed within saddles 42. Since the operation of the modification of Fig. 4 is similar to that of the arrangement shown in Figs. 1-3, a description thereof is not deemed necessary and is omitted, it being understood that springs 41 are prestressed and the parts are arranged in such a way that adequate clutch pressure is maintained and at the same time substantial wearing of the clutch surfaces? is accommodated without readjustment.

From the above it will be appreciated that according. to this invention we have dispensed with the main driving belt by providing the improved clutch mechanism of this invention and furthermore, we have greatly reduced the necessity for maintenance operations since the clutch tends to wear uniformly due to the above described changes in the direction of rotation of the load and motive means. Furthermore the arrangement of Fig. 4 automatically compensates for wear and maintains the desired clutch pressure with a minimum of maintenance and adjustment.

While we have shown and described particular modifications of the invention we do not wish to be limited thereto and intend in the appended claims to cover all such changes and modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention.

What we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. In combination, a drum having a clutch surface about its periphery, a clutch spider having a hub portion, a pair of spaced radially extending elements and a pedestal disposed between said elements, said spider being coaxially disposed relative to said drum, an arcuate clutch shoe having its end portions in engagement with said elements, said end portions of said shoe being secured against substantial angular movement relative to said spider and being independently movable radially relative thereto so as frictionally to engage and disengage said clutch surface, spring means biasing said clutch shoe toward said elements, an arm in pivotal engagement with said pedestal and with a portion of said shoe intermediate the ends thereof, and means for moving said arm about said pedestal as a pivot thereby to move said shoe into engagement with said clutch surface against the action of said spring means.

2. In combination, a drum having a clutch surface about its periphery, a clutch spider having a hub portion, a pair of spaced radially extending elements and a pedestal disposed between said elements, said spider being coaxially disposed relative to said drum, an arcuate clutch shoe having its end portions in engagement with said elements, the end portions of said shoe being secured against substantial angular movement relative to said spider and being independently movable radially relative thereto so as frictionally to engage and disengage said clutch surface, an arm in pivotal engagement with said pedestal and with said shoe, a collar coaxially disposed relative to said drum and spider and movable axially relative thereto, and adjustable toggle means interposed between said collar and said arm, the adjustment of said toggle means being determinative of the position of said shoe relative to said clutch surface, and means for moving said collar axially thereby to cause said shoe to move radially relative to said drum.

3. In combination, a drum having a clutch surface about its periphery, a clutch spider disposed in proximity to said drum and having a pair of elements adjacent said clutch surface and having a pedestal disposed between said elements, a clutch shoe supported at its ends by said elements, the end portions of said shoe being secured against substantial angular movement relative to said spider and being independently movable radially relative thereto so as frictionally to engage and disengage said clutch surface, an arm in pivotal engagement with said pedestal and with said shoe, an axially movable collar coaxially disposed relative to said spider and drum, a yoke member interposed between said collar and said arm for imparting radial movement to said shoe in response to axial movement of said collar.

4. In combination, a drum having a clutch surface about its periphery, a clutch spider disposed in proximity to said drum and having a pair of elements adjacent said clutch surface and having a pedestal disposed between said elements, a clutch shoe supported at its ends by said elements, the end portions of said shoe being secured against substantial angular movement relative to said spider and being independently movable radially relative thereto so as frictionally to engage and disengage said clutch surface, an arm in pivotal engagement with said pedestal and with said shoe, an axially movable collar coaxially disposed relative to said spider and drum, a saddle having its mid-portion aranged to exert a force on said arm in a radial direction, yieldable means including a pair of rods and associated springs forming a connection between the ends of said saddle and said collar whereby axial movement of said collar imparts radial movement to said shoe.

5. In combination, a drum having a clutch surface about its periphery, a clutch spider disposed in proximity to said drum and having a pair of elements adjacent said clutch surface, a clutch shoe supported adjacent its ends by said elements, the end portions of said shoe being secured against substantial angular movement relative to said spider and being independently movable radially rela tive thereto so as frictionally to engage and disengage said clutch surface, a collar coaxially disposed relative to said drum and spider and having a pair of diametrically disposed studs thereon, a pair of rods respectively in engagement with said studs, a compression spring disposed about each of said rods, a saddle having an opening in each end thereof for respectively receiving one of said rods, means interrelating said saddle and said shoe whereby axial movement of said collar imparts radial movement to said shoe through said springs and rods, and means for moving said collar axially.

6. In combination, a drum having a clutch surface about its periphery, a clutch spider disposed in proximity to said drum and having a pair of elements adjacent said clutch surface, a clutch shoe supported adjacent its ends by said elements, the end portions of said shoe being secured against substantial angular movement relative to said spider and being independently movable radially relative thereto so as frictionally to engage and disengage said clutch surface, a collar coaxially disposed relative to said drum and spider and having a pair of diametrically disposed studs thereon, an arcuate yoke member having its end portions respectively in engagement with said studs and having an intermediate portion in engagement with said shoe whereby axial movement of said collar imparts radial movement to said shoe, and means for imparting movement to said collar.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 316,200 Thompson Apr. 21, 1885 421,333 Walker Feb. 11, 1890 451,653 McLaughlin May 5, 1891 722,150 Scott Mar. 3, 1903 1,726,919 Penney et al. Sept. 3, 1929 2,306,158 Ferguson et al. Dec. 22, 1942 2,525,550 Jewell Oct. 10, 195.0 2,570,902 Yoncoski Oct. 9, 1951 FOREIGN PATENTS 120,805 Germany May 30, 1901 317,934 Great Britain Aug. 29, 1929 

